RETURN TO CAMP. 159 



what tliey were about, and to beckon them on 

 — a reedbock was startled out of some long grass 

 close to their feet, and as he ran away I took 

 a shot at him, and had the good luck to kill him, roll- 

 ing him over like a hare. Both men rushed on him 

 immediately and took him up. I never saw anything 

 like the way they stared at and examined me when I 

 came near. As I approached them I clapped my hands, 

 according to their custom, and they replied in the 

 same way. I now knew there was nothing to fear, 

 and promising them saloo (cloth), beckoned them to 

 follow me. We soon arrived at the spot where the 

 two gazelles lay, and in a few minutes the two men 

 were dancing and singing round them like maniacs. 

 Again I made them understand that if they would 

 help to carry the nyama home they would be paid, and 

 I was soon wending my way to camp with a gazelle 

 and rifle on my own back, the men carrying the other 

 gazelle and reedbock between them. My arrival was 

 signalized by a general rejoicing, but Moloka gave me 

 a long lecture on the danger of traversing these jungles 

 alone, or without a man well acquainted with the 

 language. He said these people would not only take 

 your gun, but even the clothes off you, and if you 

 attempted to object they would not hesitate to kill you. 

 However, he concluded his remarks by saying, "it was 

 well done." It blew hard all night, and the following 

 day. Towards evening I took another stroll, but 

 without success, only seeing a gazelle a long way off, 

 and failing to come to terms with it. However, be- 

 tween Marenga's cow and the relay of antelope, all in 

 camp were gorged, so I did not fret much about it. 



